Emilio steals show at Tejano awards

By Melissa Renter?a - Express-News

Published 12:00 am, Monday, July 12, 2010

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Jay Perez accepts the award for male vocalist of the year. The three-hour awards show experienced a few technical difficulties, but host Paul Rodriguez said the presentation is proof Tejano is not dead.

Jay Perez accepts the award for male vocalist of the year. The three-hour awards show experienced a few technical difficulties, but host Paul Rodriguez said the presentation is proof Tejano is not dead.

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Jay Perez accepts the award for male vocalist of the year. The three-hour awards show experienced a few technical difficulties, but host Paul Rodriguez said the presentation is proof Tejano is not dead.

Jay Perez accepts the award for male vocalist of the year. The three-hour awards show experienced a few technical difficulties, but host Paul Rodriguez said the presentation is proof Tejano is not dead.

Emilio steals show at Tejano awards

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Even considering the much-heralded tributes and cross-genre collaborations, one of the biggest highlights of the 30th annual Tejano Music Awards was when an unannounced performer took the stage Sunday night at Municipal Auditorium.

Fans jumped to their feet and several rushed to the stage as an energetic-looking Emilio Navaira joined his brother Raulito during the latter's performance of “Como Le Hare.” The two shared an emotional embrace, and Emilio Navaira could barely be heard over the applause as he thanked fans for their continued support.

“I'm glad to be here. I love you guys,” said Emilio Navaira, who has been absent from the music scene since a March 2008 tour bus crash near Houston.

“We're back,” he said.

This year, the academy joined the Texas Talent Musicians Association, which produces the annual Tejano Music Awards. Because of the awards show's milestone year, both organizations were hoping to make the Tejano Music Awards and the Tejano Music National Convention, which concluded Sunday, a makeover for the genre that many have said is dying.

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Other artists who took the stage either to perform or accept awards urged fans to continue to support the genre. About 2,800 attended the awards show, and several sported T-shirts emblazoned with the likenesses of such artists as Selena, La Mafia and Latin Breed.

Tributes to those artists, including video montages, filled the show. San Antonio band Girl in a Coma and “American Idol” finalist David Archuleta participated in a musical tribute to Selena, performing her hit “Como la Flor.”

After weeks of promoting that this year's awards show would have a makeover, those expecting a sleekly produced show would have been disappointed. Audio difficulties, including faulty microphones, and teleprompter problems occurred throughout the three-hour show.

Rodriguez made the best of the awkward moments, joking with the audience. Walking backward on stage as if to rewind his steps, Rodriguez cracked: “Nobody saw nothing.”